TV is still the proverbial king when it comes to entertainment. Statista data supports this assertion. According to the statistics, there were 121 million “TV homes” in the US in 2020. However, for the power TV currently has, there’s no doubt it’s losing its grip on the entertainment market, particularly among the younger generation. Again, Statista data supports this claim. Recent data shows that adults aged between 18 and 49 watch less than 4 hours of TV per day. In contrast, a 2019 report from Hootsuite showed that, across all age ranges, adults spend more than six hours per day online.
Viewers Are Swapping TV for Streaming
The rise in consumption of online content has helped streaming platforms such as Netflix attract more than 200 million customers over the last decade. That’s an impressive stat and one that looks likely to turn the tide. As digital entertainment platforms become more accessible and comprehensive, people are going to change mediums. In fact, a 2021 study from Deloitte found that the average American pays for four online subscription services. Additionally, a 2020 New York Times article found that 20% of viewing time in the US was focused on streaming and that figure could increase to 33% by 2022.
Perhaps the most interesting trend within this digital takeover is live streaming. The Interactive Advertising Bureau found that live streaming viewership increased 47% between 2018 and 2019. The Bureau’s report also found that 44% of people surveyed said they watched less TV as a result of live streaming. The desire for live content is not only curbing the influence of TV stations but changing the way we consume content. Live streams are interactive. Moreover, anyone can start their own stream thanks to platforms such as Twitch, Instagram Live, and YouTube.
Entertainment Goes Live and Interactive
As well as real-time entertainment where streamers can communicate with viewers, live streaming has created new types of content. Take, for example, live casino gaming. Using a combination of webcams and RFID technology, a live online casino USA can broadcast interactive games such as blackjack and roulette to online players. Regardless of whether it’s Golden Nugget or SugarHouse, these live dealer casino sites are providing a new form of streaming entertainment. The same goes for Twitch.
Although it’s a different type of gaming, people can visit Twitch and watch eSports pros, casual gamers, and social media figures play everything from Call of Duty to Fortnite. What we’re seeing here is a paradigm shift. TV certainly isn’t dead, and it may not ever completely fade from existence. However, when it comes to entertainment trends that are on the rise, streaming and, in particular, live streaming, are gaining traction. This has already created new forms of entertainment and, based on what we’ve seen already, it’s likely to result in more interesting innovations in the coming years.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nick Gambino is a regular script writer and tech beat reporter for NewsWatch. He lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and daughter.
